Should music consumers also be music elitists?
By Ben Snyder
I am sick of these so-called music elitists wasting all my time.
Let's get one thing straight: I would never listen to any band on a major label, but everywhere I go I hear people complaining about mainstream music, and each time I do I feel like I want to barf myself to death. Get a life.
There are more important things than trying to broaden your musical horizons, or listening to music made by non-millionaires. For example, as soon as I finish writing this article, I am going to go polish my Gary Numan vinyl collection.
You think that Soulja Boy Tell Em is a stupid name?
Well some people might think that the name Geogaddi sounds stupid. They would be wrong, but I am sure you understand my point.
Another thing that bugs me is when people complain that their favorite bands are sellng out. If I have even heard of them, I am sure that they were sellouts from the start.
Even if they once were cool, which I doubt, their choice to exchange cash for creative control of their music should not affect your feelings about them.
Lots of cool bands have been on MTV. I can't think of any right now, but hypothetically, they could exist.
Making fun of brainless mainstream slobs is not cool. If you had been born without any curiosity or real interest in music, would you like it if people were constantly pointing out that fact?
No, you would call them elitists and then go listen to Dave Matthews Band in peace.
If we just take a minute to walk in the Rainbows of our slower, simpler neighbors, I think we can find some common ground.
The important thing is this: Do not judge.
I mean, seriously, why even bother establishing a personal set of guidelines about what music is pleasing or not pleasing?
You're just going to end up feeling great about yourself, and there is something really wrong with that --Ã apparently.
I mean, who cares if Calvin Johnson signed my chest at MusicFest Northwest, or that I have two pairs of drumsticks from Deerhoof concerts, or that I can sing "Miserable Lie" in perfect Morrissey falsetto? Nobody!
That sort of thing is fine, but many average Joes have achieved something just as admirable: listening to music on the radio for more than two minutes at a time. Have you ever tried that? It's really intolerable.
There is nothing wrong with liking Top 40 hits. Those artists all achieved success through perfectly legitimate contracts, marketing campaigns and endless radio play, so who are you to blab about how you prefer more independent or music-oriented groups?
The faceless puppeteers of Universal Music Group just happen to promote music that most people, after constant exposure, can settle for. Is that such a crime?
If we don't stop these music elitists soon, we will all be investigating, creating and critiquing new music before we know it. That's not a world I want to live in.
Why can't all our music choices be as easy as American Idol?
Ben Snyder is a senior political science, history and German triple major.